CITY PREPARES TO SERVE SENIORS DURING HEAT WAVE

(7/6/2007) Senior Center to be Opened as Cooling Centers for Next Week’s Excessive Heat

NEW HAVEN- The Department of Elderly Services is preparing to open two senior centers as cooling centers for the excessive heat expected to impact New Haven next Monday and Tuesday. The following senior centers will be open and air conditioned from 8:30 am until 8pm on those days to give seniors a cool place to rest and avoid the heat outside:

Dixwell/Newhallville Senior Center

located at Bethel AME Church 255 Goffe Street

203-946-8541

East Shore Senior Center

411 Townsend Avenue

203-946-8549 or 203-946-8544

Free transportation is available for seniors in the afternoon to and from these senior centers. Further, transportation is also handicap accessible. For a free ride seniors should call 203-288-6643 and ask for New Haven Elderly Services Senior Center Rides.

"Seniors represent a big concern to us in New Haven during the warm/humid summer months,” said Darcey Cobbs, Director of Eldery Services. “The City of New Haven operates six air conditioned senior centers for our residents who need a cool place to be daily. The centers all have a lunch program and various activities. In addition, when the temperatures exceed 90 degrees, we will keep several centers open later in the evenings to serve as cooling centers and provide transportation for seniors in need. We hope that residents will take advantage of this program."

While the East Shore and Dixwell/Newhallville centers will be open late every time the temperature exceeds 90 degrees, the other four senior centers in the City will be open during normal business hours and will serve as cooling centers during the day.